Opel Signum

Opel Signum 2 Concept

The Opel Signum2 Concept was a luxury hatchback presented by Opel at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, and the 2001 Bologna Motor Show in Italy. Design elements from the car were later used in the production Signum, which went into production in February 2003. In November 2000, sketches of the Signum2 were present.[3]

The Signum name was also used on a concept car presented at the 1997 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. In August 2001, the name of the car was announced.[4]

The first official pictures of the production Signum were released in August 2002.[5]

The Signum platform is that of the Vectra Estate, meaning that the wheelbase is longer than the hatchback/saloon of the Vectra by 13 cm (5.1 in). This provides for very ample rear legroom. Instead of a traditional three passenger bench seat, the Signum has two separate seats in the rear, offering a range of adjustment capabilities including sliding back and forth (just like the front seats) and reclining backrests.

There is also a very narrow central section, which includes a folding armrest and can also serve as a third seat (the Signum is fitted with three rear headrests and safety belts). The seats can also be folded down individually to increase the cargo space, a system that Opel calls Flexspace.

The Signum shares many body panels (including the complete front part of the body) and interior elements (in particular the complete dashboard and front seats) with the Vectra, but the tailgate and rear fender design is unique to the Signum. The Signum was facelifted along with the Vectra lineup in September 2005, getting a new front fascia design and slight changes elsewhere.

All Signums were made alongside Vectras in Opel's Rüsselsheim plant in Germany.

The Signum was offered with a wide range engines it shared with the Vectra. These include:

• 1.8 L I4 16V DOHC Ecotec
• 2.2 L I4 16V DOHC Ecotec Direct
• 2.0 L I4 16V DOHC Turbo Ecotec
• 3.2 L V6 24V DOHC L81 (replaced by the 2.8 V6 turbo in 2005)
• 2.8 L V6 Turbo 24V DOHC HFV6 (avail. since the 2005 facelift)
• 2.0 L I4 16V DOHC DTI Ecotec (replaced by the base 1.9 CDTI in 2005)
• 2.2 L I4 16V DOHC DTI Ecotec (replaced by the DOHC 1.9 CDTI in 2005)
• 1.9 L I4 8V OHC CDTI (the 74 kW (99 hp) version of this engine is available since the 2005 facelift, superseding the 2.0 DTI)
• 1.9 L I4 16V DOHC CDTI (avail. since 2005)
• 3.0 L V6 24V DOHC CDTI (177hp before 2005)
• 3.0 L V6 24V DOHC CDTI (184hp after 2005)

In July 2008, both the Signum and Vectra C were discontinued. Although no direct replacement was announced, much of the market territory it once occupied was filled by the Insignia (2008).